ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7552, 3 February 1886, Page 6

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Thb session of the Anglican General Synod was resumed yesterday afternoon at half past three o'clock, the most &ev. the Primate of New Zealand presiding. The proceed were opened with prayer, after which the miuutes of the previous day's proceeding* were read by the clerical secretary, the Rev. O. M. Nelson, and confirmed. - ■,- ACCOUNTS, • The Bishop of Waiapu laid on the table the account* of the General Synod' SOOTH SBA ISLANDS. The Pbimatk read a report of the Bishops as to the desirability of supervision and visiting of the ohurohei in the South Sea Islands, outside the Melaneaian Mission. They would arrange for a bishop to visit these plaoes before undertaking any supervision, the Bishop of Dunedin to aot as correspondent. CANON V. TITLE B. Archdeacon Stock moved, "For leave to bring in a Bill to alter clause 6, Canon V, Title B, by leaving out the word ' communicants.," Leave was granted, and the Bill was read a first time. BURIAL SEBVIOB MB THB DNBArTISED. Arohdeaoon Harper moved, ."That this Synod respectfully requests the Right Reverend the Bench of Bishops to prepare a service for use in cases of burial, in whioh the notice at the commencement! of the order for the burial of the dead forbids the use of that office; euoh service to be taken from the Book of Common Prayer and portions of Holy Scripture, not being part of the order for the burial of th« dead, nor of the order for the administration of the holy communion." In speaking to the motion he pointed out the necessity for such a service. The Prayer-book rubric prevented a clergyman from burying a person who dies unbaptised with the rites of the Church. There wore also oases of suicide and others in which the verdict of the jury removed the charge of «elf-mnrder. It placed the clergymen in a dilemma as to whether he should not give some form of Christian burial. He bad been requested to bring this matter up, They felt if a clergyman departed from the burial service that they would be relaxing the discipline of of the Churoh. In the difficulty he had become a law to himself, aud invented a service at the grave, using curtain prayers of whioh the Lord's Prayer was the only one used in the burial service of the Prayer-book, and what he asked was the Bench of Bishops to prepare a form of prayer for ocoasious of thia sort, not for general use. He held that the main alterations should bo that it should not be taken from the service for the burial of the dead, nor from that of the holy communion. The Rev. A. Giitord seconded the motion, and endorsed the remarks of the mover of the resolution. The Rev. Mr. Hovell thought if they passed the resolution they would do more harm than good. The alternative service would come to be looked on as a service for the lost. It would be better to face the difficulty as it had been faced in days gone by than establish a new servioe, which would be looked on as a slight by the friends of the departed. He would rather hob it passed that when the service is not allowed a psalm and other prayers be allowed. He would not move this, but if the motion was passed he feared it would have a bad rather than a good effect. The Biihop of Wellington said the same difficulty whioh occurred to Mr. Hovell as to the dissatisfaction of the relatives occurred to him, He pointed out that the cases of the service having been read over those who laid violent hands on themselves were much less frequent than those on whioh it had been read at the burial of avowed atheists or secularists. The matter was frequently referred to him, and he thought that a professed atheist should have no reason to complain in not having the Christian burial eervioe read over him. The Dean of CHRIST' horch coincided with the remarks of the Bishop of Wellington) and agreed that the whole question required deeper treatment than it received from the resolution proposed by Archdeacon Harper. He pointed out that the Bench of Bishops would be unwilling to prepare a special form of prayer. He quoted from the record* of the Synod, and thought that if better reasons were not shown why it should be passed the motion should be withdrawn.

The Bishop of Nilson spoke in support of the motion. Ue considered it much better that a form of prayer should be drawn up than that it should be left; to the individual clergymen. The Bishop of Acciund did not quite agree with the remarke of any of the former speakers. He had known almost a mutiny produced in one of Her Majesty's regiments through the injudicious remarks of a chaplain at a burial. 'I he most serious matter was the effect produced on the feelings of the relatives. If not buried with the rites of the Chnrch, the feeling on the part of the relatives was painful, and alienated them from the influence of the clergy, and if one of their clergy refused to bury a sailor the effect would be bad on the whole crew of toe ship. His reading of the rnbrio was though he should not read, that serrioe he could read some other, and should continue to do so. The clergyman had the right to omit what did not refer to the ciroumstancei of the deceased, and ho never knew any objection to it when no attention was called to it. It was the feeling of the living that had to be considered, and it was a very hopeful feeling inherent to Englishmen to object to a judgment pronounced on their departed friends.

The Rev. C. M. Nelson, while agreeing to a great extent with the mover of the reiolution, could not agree with him that in cases such as he referred to no part of the office for the dead ehould be read. His own system had been similar to that indicated by ihe Bishop of Auckland, but he thought there should be uniformity, and where the whole service could not be read al inapplicable to the oaae in question, there should be as little alteration as possible, and be thought the matter could not be better dealt with than by referring it to the Benoh of Bishops. Mr. Tannkr did not think it would be right to refuse the burial service to the child of negligent parents who had not had it baptised or, eay the children of Baptists who considered in a district where only a Church of England clergyman was residing. He then alluded to cases of suicide, which might occur through temporary mania to a religioae and good man. He could not see what good purpose could be gained by a clergyman refusing to wear his surpliceon such occasions, for the surplico waa the mark of the clergyman's office, not of his opinions.

The Bishop of Wmru expressed sympathy with the difficulties expressed by the mover of the resolution, and he knew they were often met by parochial clergymen, but he thought it better that the eases should be dealt with aa tbey arose.

Mr. Hunter Brown opposed the views of Bishop Cowie aud Bishop Stuart. Beautiful as the service was, it was, he thought a pity it had ever been authorised, for amongst the ignorant and ill-living olassee there was a superstition that, if at the end they got Christian burial it would be a>l right. That was a feeling which ought not to exist, but the adoption of the resolution would serve to disperse a cloud of confusion from the minds of the friends and acquaintances of deceased persons. Archdeacon Molks urged that it should be left to the clergymen to follow the coarse best adopted, according to hie judgment, to the special cases as they arose. The Bishop of Dunkbih spoke in support of the motion aud in favour of having the alternative service prepared by those in authoirty, The clergyman could then claim that he had an equal right to use it, and would be thus sheltered in his action. Of all the plans he disliked the most that of leaving it to indiridual clergymen to skip out words as they thought n't. Archdeacon Williams said he would be in favour of leaving everything ia the way of the judgment out, and when the corpse was brought to be burned, let the clergyman simply perform his duty as an officer of the Church. He would ask the mover to omit the latter part of the motion, and leave the matter to the decision of the Bench of Bishops* The Rev. T. Fancoort opposed the establishment of » service to meet the limited number of cages referred to. He for bis part had always declined to read the burial service over unbaptised ohildren. The Rsv. S. Williams, while agreeing with a great deal that had been said in support of the resolution, hoped it would be 'rUhdrawn. If the resolution was not withdrawn, he hoped it would be rejected by the Synod. He travelled over portions of the country where the viaifea of the clergymen

were few tad far between, and he had often baen askad to read the burial aervioe over Children who had died unbaptlsed, not through any fault of their parent*, and on qme oobaiioa'hebad known hie Bishop to read the eorvlce over a ohild in «uoh oiroam•tanoee, and it was a great relief to hie mind. Arohdeaoon Clark* h°P ed the mOti ° Q would be withdrawn, ae he considered the clergyman should not be called upon no judge. Hβ hbped there would be no alternative service, and he, for One, should objeot to having to exercise ft judgment in oases of burial. Mr. Wells said he was in a dilemma as to hoir to vote, and as other members of the Synod were In a similar dilemma, he would offer them an alternative by moving •' that the Synod do now pass to the next business on the order paper." The Clerical Secretary beintf appealed to said that the rule was that a motion of this sort must be put forthwith without dieoussion. The Bishop of Auckland asked whether ifc was competent for a member to speak himself and then move this resolution. Arohdeaoon Harper asked whether he should not have the right of reply, and whether the amendment had been seconded ? Colonel Haultain seconded the amendment, which was put to the meeting and lost on the voloes. The debate was then resumed* The Rev. Mr. Kbmptuornb said that ae clergymen they were bound to use this service, and none other, in accordance with their vows. The Bishop of Mblanasia thought they had travelled ontside the subject. They ought to be able to tell a man that by hie life he was causing scandal, and oould not reoeive the services of the Church, They hitherto had not the courage to do so. As to persons committiag suicide, they were guided by the verdict of the jury, and the only other oase was that of an unbaptieed infant; and if a olergyman erred on the right side, he would not be condemned either by the Bishop or laity. He eaw no neoessity for the alternative aervioe. He had a dietinot and disagreeable reoolleotion of reading the service over a man who had committed the most horrible crimes imaginable, and it was to him, even now, a bitter reoolleotion. But the introduction of an alternative prayer, instead of " Wβ give Thee hearty thanks tor that Thou hast removed this our brother here departed," would meet the circumstances of such a oase. He hoped the mover would withdraw the resolution. Arohdeaoon Stock gave an instanoe in which he had need the service as gaol chaplain over a criminal who up to the last had declared himself unconverted, but he had omitted the words, " We give Thee hearby thanks, &o." Arohdeaoon Harfer replied, and withdrew the latter part of the motion from the word " office." The motion was put, as amended, and lost on the voioes. The Synod adjourned at six o'clock. EVENING SITTING. The Synod reeumed at half-past seven p.m. Archdeacon Williams, .as a matter of expediency, as it was sessional business, obtained leave to move, " That, in accordance with the provisions of Title 0, Canon 111., clause 6, a committee be appointed to note and certify the changes whicb may be made in the canons during the present session of the Synod. That such oommittee consist of the Rev. T. Fancourt, Mr. H, T. Clark, and tho mover." The motion waa carried. THANKS TO THE OLDB3. The Bishop of Ddneuiw asked for the suspension of the Standing Orders to move a vote of thanks to the Northern Club and Auokland Club for their courtesy in attending to the wants and comfort of the members of the Synod. Leave was granted, and the vote was cordially agreed to. CANON IV., STANDING COMMISSION. The Bishop of Wellington moved the second reading of a Bill for the purpose of repealing the second proviso of clause 9, Canon IY., Title U, and substituting other words as follows :— " Provided further that it shall be competent to the standing commission to entertain any such question on the application of one of the parties practicnlly interested therein as aforesaid when the other party, after having been called on by its secretary, has either refused to submit the same to the decision of the standing commission, or has assigned reasons for refusing so to do which do not appear satisfactory to the standing commission." He pointed out the necessity fer the clause, insisting on the point that the standing commission should have distinot evidence before it that the other party refused to appear or assigned reasons which could not be recognised. The Standing Committee's decition could not be appealed from, and care should be taken that they did not give a decision on ex parte evidence, but have the whole case before them. He moved that the Bill be read a second time. The Dean of CHRisTOHORea seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Synod then went into committee to consider the Bill, Colonel Haultain in the chair. An alteration to substitute the words " the commission" for " its secretary" was acoepted by the Bishop of Wellington. Mr Seth Smith moved that all the words after "either refused" be struck out and the words substitute'! "without assigning reasons for so refueiag, which may appear satisfactory to the standing commission, or hae failed for 60 clays to submit the same to the decision of the Standing Committee." This amendment was carried. The Synod resumed, and the Bill was reported as amended, and the Bishop _of Wellington gave notice to more the third reading on Thursday next. CLAUSE 23, C*NON 1., TITLE B. Archdeacon Stock moved the seoond reading of a Bill to amend this clause by adding after the word " Canon" the following words:— "At least five months before the day fixed for the meeting of the General Synod." The clause proposed to be amended waa in reference to the election of members of the General Synod, and he explained that more time was required to find lay representatives and select them. The Rev. Mr. Fanoocrt seconded the motion and spoke in support of it, pointing out that time was required for compiling satisfactory rolls, which would occupy a month. The motion was carried, and the Bill was read a second time. The Synod went into oommittee, Colonel Haultain in the chair. The Synod resumed, and the Bill was reported without amendment. .SPIRITUAL CHARGE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. The Bishop of Wellinoton moved the second reading of a Bill to provide for the spiritual oharge of schools and other institutions, as follows:—"The Bishop of the diocese within which any college, school, hospital, asylum, or any other public or charitable institution is situated, may license a olergyman to administer therein the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and perform suoh other offices and services of the Church as shall be specified in such license, provided that the Bishop shall not include in any such license the solemnization of marriage, and may, if he thinks fit, revoke the same at any time. The minister to officiating shall, with respect to the performance of the offices and servioes of the Church specified in suoh lioense, be subject to no oontrol or interference on the part of the curate of the parish or district in which such institution la situate; but nothing herein contained shall prejudice or affect the right of such curate to the entire cure of souls throughout such parish or district elsewhere than within euch institution, within which cure of aouls shall have been granted by suoh lioense. The offertory and alms oolleoted at any service held at suoh institution ehall be disposed of as the minister thereof shall dete-r mine, subject to the direction of the ordinary." He spoke in support of the Bill, pointing out its necessity, as in many places clergymen had so much work on their hands that they were unable to attend to schools and public institutions within their parishes, and he thought it important that some provision should be made for them, Arcbdeaoon Stock seconded the motion. The Dean of Ctristohoroh pointed out that this would be establishing an imperium in imperio, which woald interfere with the incumbent of a pariah or oure, and an infringement which would lead to difficulties arising. But he generally supported the Bill. The Rev. Mr. Nelson aeked why the Bill prevented the chaplain from marrying couples. He objected altogether to tho principle of the Bill, and considered they were not at all ripe for legislation of this kind. The Rev. Mr. FitohbW could not agree with the remarks of the last speaker. He believed the Bill would greatly relieve the parochial olergy.

The Bishop of Auckland considered the time had arrived for licensing olergv men as indicated by the Bill. They required a ohaplain for the Hospital, and had already a Selwyn Memorial Fund for that purpose, and it was neoessary he should be licensed. He had licensed a chaplain for the gaol. Then they had in the diocese a Grammar School, and they had a Pamell Grammar Sohool, of which the headmaster was a layman, and the inoumbent had to give theologioal teaohing, bnt had they a olergyman he was the proper person to have special charge of the spiritual welfare of the pupils. The oniy question with him was whether this special legislation was neoeesary for the granting of licenses. Tbe Bishop of Dunedin said that with certain amendments he would support the Bill.

The Hon. Mr. Aoland, also spoke to the resolution. The Bishop of Nelson considered that the Bill should be altered so aa not to make it appear that the Synod conferred this power on the Bishops as it was the duty of the Bishops to provide licensed clergymen for these institutions. He also ooneidered thut the clergymen so appointed should have power to administer both saoraments. The Primate said in the early days the institutions could be dealt with by the regular clergymen, but they could not do so now, and it would be a positive relief to the inoumbent to have a clergyman appointed to those institutions. That was the system they adopted in Chnetchurch, and they never had any complaints from the incumbents, who, on the contrary, felt relieved. He objected to not giving the clergyman so appointed a license to aolommze marriages. That, however, was an amendment which could be made in committee. Mr. Quick thought the Bill unnecessary, as it appeared that wilt it provided for was already exercised in (Jhristchuroh and other dioceses, and the right of the Bishops to make such appointments was reoognieed. He considered it would be unnecessary to burden the statute-book with this Bill, and suggested that they allow the matter to remain as it is. The Kev. Mr. Fancourt also contended that the Bishops already possessed the power asked for as an inherent right. The Bishop of Waiapu spoke in suppo/tof the Bill, and several other members having spoken, the Bishop of Wellington replied. The Bill was read a secoud time on the voices, and was committed. The Bill was diecuosed at some length in committee, and several amendments were made. On the motion of the Bishop of Melanesia, the word "if" was prefixed to the first clause, and the words "may lioenae" were altered to "shall see fit to license." The word " sacrarn ent" was made plaral, and the words "of the Lord's supper," were omitted. The word " therein" was inserted between the words " perform" and " such, ,, and all the words after " license" were omitted from the clause. The second clause was discussed at some length. Tbe Chairman reported progress at eleven o'clock, and asked leave to sit again* The motion was carried, and the Synod adjourned. NOTICES OF MOTION. 39. The Dean of Christchurch to move, " That the thanks of the Synod be given to their Lordships the Bishops for the communication which they have thought tit to make to tee Synod respecting the Episcopal supervision ol members of our communion in the islands of Fiji, Samoa, and other adjacent islands oi the Pacific Ocean." , 40. Mr. Aoland to move, " That whenever any Bill has been read a tirst time, before such Bill is printed as a preliminary to the second roading the draft of tbe same shall be submitted to the sessional committee on statutes and canons, who shall take oare that the draft Bill, aa regards the form thereof, is in accordance with Title C, Canon 111., clause 5." 41. Archdeacon Williams to move, " For leave to bring in a Bill to embody in the Code of Canons the " Instruction to Truetees " contained in pages 95 to 108 inclusive of the Proceedings of the General Synod of 1883.

42. The Bishop of Dunecint to move, " For leave to bring in a Bill to amend clauses 16 and 17, of Canon 11, Title A."

43. Mr. Larkins to move, "That this Synod do give effect to the vote of the Auckland Diocesan Synod regarding the near approach of the jubilee year of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's reign."